A FUTURISTIC train that boasted the best of British technology has received an Institution of Mechanical Engineers award to mark its place in history.

The Advanced Passenger Train – Experimental (APT-E) was a groundbreaking project created by British Rail during the 1970's and early 80's.

Its carriages were designed to tilt as the train rounded corners at high speeds to allow a more comfortable ride for the passengers.

The train suffered a blighted history and after years of costly development it was scrapped by BR.

However, the design was further developed by a number of other countries, most famously the Italian-built Pendolino which is operated by Virgin on the West Coast Main Line.

A few of the APT-E's still exist and one is on show at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon.

The APT Conservation Support Group, a team of volunteers, has spent 13-years restoring the train.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers presented an Engineering Heritage Award to the train today (Friday, May 24).

Paul Leadley, of the APT-E support group, said: “The award means so much to all the people who have worked on this train.

“This train is a British Rail groundbreaker which uses British technology and we should all be very proud of it.”

The Engineering Heritage Award is given to artifacts which have an engineering importance. They have also been given to the E-type Jaguar and Tower Bridge.

The APT-E was designed as British Rail’s trains could not reach more than 125mph as they went round bends otherwise passengers found it hard to stand upright.

So British Rail engineers developed a technology to tilt the train’s carriages into bends. The train had some problems and was later scrapped.

The APT-E set a British railway speed record of 152.3mph on August 10 1975 and its technology is used round the world.

Professor Isobel Pollock, who recently stepped down as the president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, handed over the award.

She said: “The APT-E pioneered some hugely innovative ideas in railway transport and it marked a number of world firsts.

“The train is testament to the fact that the UK is home to some of the most inventive engineering innovations in the world.”

Further details on the APT-E project and also details on joining the restoration team can be found at www.apt-e.org.